On the morning of July 24, 2025, the Kingdom of Cambodia came under unprovoked armed assault from the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Under the guise of false pretenses and in blatant violation of international law, Thai troops launched first a coordinated military operation targeting Cambodian positions around the historic Ta Mone Thom and Ta Krabey temples—both located squarely within Cambodia’s sovereign territory.
This was not a border misunderstanding. It was not an accident. It was an act of deliberate aggression, planned and executed in violation of all mutually agreed arrangements, and in contempt of the principles of the United Nations Charter, the ASEAN Charter, and the basic tenets of international law.
At approximately 6:30 AM, Thai forces advanced on Ta Moan Thom, installing barbed wire in a provocative maneuver. Moments later, they launched surveillance drones, and by 8:30 AM, opened fire on Cambodian troops defending their homeland. At 8:46 AM, Thai invading forces unleashed a full-fledged assault that quickly escalated to other strategic sites, including Ta Krabey Temple and Phnom Khmao. Shockingly, at 10:40 AM, Thai warplanes dropped two bombs near the road to Wat Kaew Seekha Kiri Svarak Pagoda—a reckless and dangerous escalation that endangered not only military personnel but also world heritage sites and civilians.
Cambodia did not start this conflict—but it has every right and every duty to defend its land, its people, and its sovereignty. By 8:47 AM, with no viable alternatives, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) responded firmly under the principle of self-defense, as guaranteed under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. Cambodian troops defended the integrity of the nation with discipline and resolve, ultimately repelling the Thai assault and securing full control over all affected sites.
Let us be absolutely clear: Thailand’s deployment of overwhelming firepower and heavy artillery, its unauthorized troop buildup, and its bombing campaigns are not only dangerous—they are illegal. These are acts of war disguised in the language of border management. They endanger regional peace, stability, and the credibility of international frameworks that ASEAN and the UN have worked decades to uphold.
Thailand must bear full responsibility for all consequences resulting from its reckless military aggression, including any escalation, loss of life, or damage to cultural heritage and civilian infrastructure. Thailand must also explain to the international community what justification it had—if any—for launching such a blatant and unprovoked act of military provocation.
The Kingdom of Cambodia now calls upon the international community to speak clearly and forcefully: this aggression must be condemned. Silence only emboldens further transgressions. The cost of inaction is not just Cambodian land—it is the erosion of international law and regional peace.
Thailand must be held accountable. It must immediately cease all hostilities, withdraw its forces, and return to its own territory. This is not just a demand of a sovereign Cambodia—it is a demand of international norms.
Even as the Cambodian government reaffirms its commitment to peace, diplomacy, and lawful resolution, it also reiterates its non-negotiable right to defend the homeland. We will not surrender to aggression. We will not be coerced. We will not be intimidated. Not now. Not ever.
The Royal Government, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and the Cambodian people are united in our defense of our territory, our dignity, and our sovereignty—no matter the cost. This unity is not just a matter of national pride; it is an assertion of international legitimacy.
To the world: Cambodia stands not just for its borders, but for the principle that no nation, large or small, should be bullied by its neighbor.
To Thailand: cease your unlawful actions, respect Cambodia’s sovereignty, and choose peace—before it is too late.
From:www.khmertimeskh.com
